Planetarium: Martian Rovers: From Pathfinder to Perseverance

Material Information

Abstract:: Martian Rovers: From Pathfinder to Perseverance: Scott Roby (Astronomy) Since 1996, NASA has sent a series of increasingly sophisticated land rovers to the surface of Mars to explore its geology and meteorology (Pathfinder, Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance). Driving around the surface, these reprogrammable rovers are effectively playing the role of robotic field geologists and meteorologists on Mars. New landing techniques (the “bubble-wrap bounce”, sky crane, and self-surveillance) have been successfully demonstrated. The rovers record weather conditions and must endure hazardous dust storms. Many have exceeded their planned “lifetimes”. With cameras, lasers, X-rays, core drilling, and the new Ingenuity drone, the Perseverance mission will examine rock formations and rock chemistry to collect further evidence that Mars was wetter, warmer and may have hosted life in the distant past.
Acquisition:: Collected for SUNY Oswego Institutional Repository by the online self-submittal tool. Submitted by Zach Vickery.